Raymond Muratalla hopes to get a press release knockout win over Jesus Perez tonight of their 10-round contest on ESPN+ on the Turning Stone Resort On line casino in Verona, New York.
(Credit score: Mikey Williams/High Rank)
Jesus Perez (25-5, 18 KOs) has fought at welterweight, dropping to the large punchers Brian Norman Jr. and Alexis Rocha. He went the gap with each fighters, exhibiting he may take their energy. In Perez’s final struggle, he defeated the previous tremendous featherweight champion Joseph ‘Jojo’ Diaz.
Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) wants a formidable efficiency to make followers overlook his disappointing efficiency earlier this 12 months in opposition to former Tevin Farmer on July thirteenth.
The previous IBF tremendous featherweight champion Farmer out-boxed Muratalla in the course of the first half of the struggle, making him appear like a median fighter. Muratalla did come on late to harm Farmer within the ninth and tenth rounds with large photographs, however his efficiency was not what followers had anticipated.
“That may be an enormous assertion. I do know he’s a much bigger man. He’s been within the ring with some good fighters. So, I do know it’s going to be robust,” stated Raymond Muratalla to Sean Zittel about his struggle tonight in opposition to Jose Perez.
Muratalla doesn’t throw sufficient punches for him to have an opportunity of knocking out Perez tonight as a result of it will take so much to get that man out of there. He’s fought greater punchers than Muratalla earlier than and survived.
“I believe it’s going to be a harder struggle. I believe I’ll be capable to present extra of my abilities somewhat than somebody that’s working, hugging, and all of that,” stated Muratalla when requested if Perez will likely be a neater struggle for him than his final one in opposition to Tevin Farmer on July thirteenth.
Perez will truly struggle greater than Farmer did, however it gained’t be a harder struggle when it comes to Muratalla needing to unravel his type. He couldn’t resolve Farmer’s type. The one motive he gained was that Farmer gassed out late within the contest.
“The motion, and holding. He’s an ex-world champion, so he is aware of his means round,” stated Muratalla about his struggle in opposition to Farmer. “I ought to have let extra punches go to cease a number of the motion and never let him maintain me a lot.”
Farmer didn’t do loads of holding in opposition to Muratalla. He was principally countering and transferring quick distances. It could appear to Muratalla that Farmer was holding so much, however he wasn’t.
“Once I let my palms go, it’s onerous to get me off of you. So, that’s one thing we’ve been engaged on and also you guys will see much more of that. Simply watching my fights and the movies. If I had thrown extra punches, I’d have landed extra.
“We’re shut, we’re proper subsequent to one another,” stated Muratalla about him being ranked excessive alongside Keyshawn Davis. “I believe the WBO, I must be subsequent. We’re all going to finish up assembly one another sometime,” stated Muratalla concerning the high 4 contenders within the light-weight rankings.
“We [Keyshawn] may get it on. I’m right here to struggle. So, clearly, I need the world title shot. If we’ve obtained to struggle for a world title, we will struggle for a title, too. I believe as a result of he doesn’t have a reputation, however he’s a champion for a motive. He has a clumsy type. He’s fairly slick.
“He is aware of what he’s doing,” stated Muratalla when requested if WBO light-weight champion Denys Berinchyk is the weak hyperlink among the many champions at 135. “I believe a struggle between me and him could be excellent. Hopefully, we get it quickly.”
Berinchyk can do extra issues than Shakur and Gervonta Davis can. He doesn’t have the wheels that Shakur has or the facility of Tank. He’s obtained the abilities.
“Both one. Whoever I can get it first. I’m not choosing and selecting. I don’t actually care,” stated Muratalla when requested who he would like to struggle between WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson and Berinchyk along with his WBO belt.
Berinchyk is the possible champion Muratalla will struggle, however it’s questionable whether or not that can occur in 2025. It’s believed that High Rank is saving Berinchyk so Keyshawn Davis can struggle. He’s the 2020 Olympic silver medalist that High Rank has been pouring cash into, making an attempt to show him right into a star. They’ll give him that Berinchyk struggle somewhat than Muratalla.
“If he doesn’t undergo with it, I’m right here,” stated Muratalla, questioning whether or not he could be open to combating Shakur if he doesn’t face William Zepeda in February. “I believe it helped me with the motion and simply the slickness. It will assist me put together for a man like him,” stated Muratalla, questioning whether or not the struggle in opposition to Farmer would assist him put together for a conflict in opposition to Shakur.
Contemplating that Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom promotes Shakur, he gained’t wish to waste certainly one of his two fights on his contract with the Newark native by scheduling a struggle in opposition to the High Rank-promoted Muratalla. I don’t see that taking place. If something, Hearn would attempt to assist out certainly one of his fighters, like Andy Cruz or Joe Cordina.
“I believe my type. I don’t assume he’s confronted a method like mine. I simply assume my type is completely different from that of every other fighters that he’s fought. Solely due to the motion. I do know he’s not going to change with me, however I’m right here to win. I’ll struggle to win,” stated Muratalla about his perception that Shakur could be a more durable struggle for him than Berinchyk.
Shakur would make issues troublesome for Muratalla by jabbing, potshotting, and transferring all night time. He’s obtained the outdated Mayweather type down pat, however he’s much more elusive than he was throughout his finest 12 months. Murtatalla could be higher off moving into Berinchyk’s route.
“Completely,” stated Muratalla about his confidence that he’ll struggle for a world title in 2025. “I’m right here. I’ve obtained to placed on exhibits and hold successful, and I can’t look ahead to subsequent 12 months. I’ll get a world title.”
It’s unlikely that Muratalla will get a world title shot in 2025 except it’s in opposition to WBO champion Denys Berinchyk. He’s ranked #2 behind William Zepeda, who is predicted to problem WBC champion Shakur Stevenson in February. The way in which that Muratalla regarded in opposition to Farmer, he’ll get his head boxed off by Berinchyk. That may be a extremely onerous struggle for Muratalla as a result of Berinchyk has a lot better technical abilities.
